HSPT, ISEE & SSAT Prep

Applying to a private high school in the East Bay often involves an admissions test. The Catholic high schools use the HSPT, and the independent schools mostly use the ISEE or SSAT. Our UC Berkeley tutors offer one-on-one prep for all three, at your home or online.

Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a UC Berkeley tutor who fits.

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Meet our tutors

Samantha

Samantha

Pursuing a Ph.D. inBioengineering

Tutors Biology · Chemistry · Math

  • Research in deep learning for assistive robotics
  • President’s Undergraduate Research Award
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Raquel

Raquel

StudiesBiology

Tutors Math · Spanish · Writing

  • AP Scholar with Distinction
  • Bilingual teaching experience in Spanish
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Anna

Anna

StudiesNeuroscience

Tutors Biology

  • Research internship in Hamburg, Germany
  • Governor’s Scholars Award recipient
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Daniel

Daniel

StudiesElectrical Engineering & Computer Sciences

Tutors Math · Physics · Computer science

  • High-school valedictorian
  • STEM education minor and after-school tutoring
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Preston

Preston

StudiesApplied Mathematics

Tutors Math · Calculus · Computer science

  • Mathematics research fellow
  • Presented at the Young Mathematicians Conference
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Evan

Evan

StudiesPhysics & Applied Mathematics

Tutors Math · Physics · Calculus

  • Independent research in machine learning for quantum computing
  • 4.0 GPA in Physics & Applied Mathematics
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Lesly

Lesly

StudiesMathematics & Computer Science

Tutors Math · Computer science · Spanish

  • Java and Python programming
  • Game development and interactive software projects
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Kathleen

Kathleen

StudiesNeuroscience & Psychology

Tutors Biology · Chemistry · Math

  • Stroke-recovery research in a neuroscience lab
  • Dean’s Honor List
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Sophie

Sophie

StudiesChemical Biology

Tutors Chemistry · Math · Physics

  • National Merit Finalist
  • 5s on 10 AP exams, including Chemistry and Biology
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Oliver

Oliver

StudiesEnglish & Creative Writing

Tutors Writing · History · French

  • Editor-in-chief of a student literary magazine
  • Edited screenplays as a film development intern at Blumhouse
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Ruhy

Ruhy

StudiesSociocultural Anthropology

Tutors Writing · History

  • Fellow mentoring youth in environmental education
  • Camp Kesem volunteer supporting kids whose parents have cancer
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Amy

Amy

StudiesChemical Engineering

Tutors Math · Chemistry · Physics

  • 5s on AP Calculus BC, Statistics and Chemistry
  • Samueli School of Engineering Scholarship
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Connor

Connor

StudiesStructural Engineering

Tutors Math · Physics · Statistics

  • Private AP Calculus AB tutor
  • Co-directed engineering workshops for 4th–6th graders
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Meghan

Meghan

StudiesMedia Studies & English

Tutors Writing

  • Writing Fellow tutoring students in writing and argumentation
  • Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
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Caleb

Caleb

StudiesApplied Math & Economics

Tutors Math · Economics · Physics

  • High school valedictorian with a four-year NROTC scholarship
  • Led workshops and peer tutoring for 40+ students
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Madeline

Madeline

StudiesApplied Mathematics

Tutors Math · Computer Science

  • Peer tutor since 2023, with 50+ hours in high school
  • Specialization in computing; programs in C++ and Python
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Thomas

Thomas

StudiesCognitive Science

Tutors Math

  • Years teaching and mentoring younger Scouts as a Boy Scout
  • Stanford research assistant analyzing data from 5,000+ medical procedures
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Sarah

Sarah

StudiesElectrical Engineering

Tutors Math · Physics · Computer Science

  • Ranked first in her high school class of 392
  • Captain and technical lead of a Worlds-qualifying FIRST Robotics team
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Jacob

Jacob

StudiesComputer Science & Aerospace Engineering

Tutors Math · Physics · Computer Science

  • Machine-learning researcher in the Stanford Multi-Robot Systems Lab
  • First place at TreeHacks
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Jeremiah

Jeremiah

StudiesGeneral Biology (Pre-Med)

Tutors Biology · Chemistry · Math

  • Nationally registered EMT
  • National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and team captain
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Erin

Erin

StudiesEnglish

Tutors Writing

  • Honors student in English at UCLA
  • Dance Club president and dance instructor
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The HSPT and the Catholic high schools

Bishop O’Dowd, Carondelet, De La Salle, Saint Mary’s College High School and the other Catholic high schools of the Diocese of Oakland give the High School Placement Test on a single shared Saturday in January. For students entering in fall 2027, that’s January 9, 2027. Students take it once, at one school, and send scores to the others, so preparation has to be finished by that morning. The test is timed and moves quickly through verbal skills, quantitative reasoning, reading, math and language, and pacing matters as much as content. We start in the fall, so a student can build up skills and take full practice tests before December.

ISEE and SSAT for independent schools

College Prep and Bentley ask applicants for the ISEE or SSAT, and College Prep wants testing finished by February 1, 2027. Bentley also offers an essay option in place of a test. The verbal and reasoning questions look unlike anything students see in class, and the math can include topics they haven’t covered yet, so focused prep helps a lot. Some schools, like Saklan and Seven Hills, use their own assessments for younger applicants instead.

Finding the right tutor, in parents’ own words

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Math · Confidence & connection
A note from a parent

“Our tutor is truly amazing! He is so patient, explains things well, asks great questions, and checks for understanding. Owen really enjoyed working with him and they accomplished so much. This is really a game changer for us! I had high hopes and he exceeded them.”

Meredith K.
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Reading & writing · Confidence & connection
A note from a parent

“The girls have loved their time with her, and it showed: Clara's CAASPP score was excellent and Ruby has done tremendous improvement in her reading from below grade level to at grade level!”

“Thanks for your tremendous partnership over many years!”

The Whitfield family
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School support · Math · Reading & writing
A note from a parent

“Your program really helped us. Henry pulled up his English last year to an A, and his next tutor helped him pull up his math and bio.”

“Everyone is looking for tutors and I said you're the best.”

Laura T.
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Math · Finding a match
A note from a parent

“She found a perfect match for my son… He is stellar. My son has grown leaps and bounds in math. Our tutor is not only a subject matter expert but teaches very well, highly prompt, flexible when needed.”

Hannah B.
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Math · School support · Confidence & connection
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“My daughter went from a C in Algebra II to an A- in one semester. The tutor was great, she really related to my daughter and made learning fun for her.”

Eduardo S.
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Reading & writing · School support
A note from a parent

“We had an incredible experience with our daughter's previous tutor from Cardinal for a couple of years!… She is doing really well with her reading and comprehension and I think our tutor put her at two grade levels ahead.”

Joanna P.
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Online tutoring
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“Their response time is outstanding. Neil responded quickly to my tutoring request for my 15-year-old. Love knowing that I have access to these high-quality services for my children. And, we use them via Zoom since we live in Tennessee. I cannot say enough great things about this business:)”

Pamala H.
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Confidence & connection
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“Very professional service with excellent teachers. My son loved his teacher, called him the best he ever had! I can very highly recommend it.”

Jeannet K.
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School support
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“I am usually not one to write a review, but I wanted to communicate how great Cardinal Tutors was for my child. They had a very flexible plan which helped accommodate my child's needs and I saw a tremendous return (grade-wise) from their services. Could not recommend more highly.”

John Y.
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Reading & writing · Programming · Finding a match
A note from a parent

“I have been absolutely impressed by her lessons over the past few months. Lily also loves working with her. She has been making great progress with her programming and writing.”

“I find your tutor quality to be excellent and a perfect fit!”

Vivian C.
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Test prep · Math
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“The subsequent long term tutor that we had for pre calc and for ACT tutoring was amazing. She was completely professional, organized, thorough and easy to work with.”

Mel H.
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Confidence & connection
A note from a parent

“You have been a wonderful inspiration for Eli and we are very grateful for having you in the past half-year!”

Irene Z.
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School support · Math
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“My son had a wonderful experience with Cardinal Tutors when he needed help with his High School math and science classes. It turns out my son also needed help staying organized with all his assignments, something that the tutor helped with as well.”

Amy C.
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Programming · Confidence & connection
A note from a parent

“The program has been awesome for us. Theo loves working with our tutor and has learned so much.”

“Our tutor is just outstanding — great with Theo and very communicative with me. Super helpful!”

Rebecca D.
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School support
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“I reached out to Cardinal Tutors and was lucky enough to find the most amazing tutor. I wish I had found him earlier.”

Sharon C.
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Math · Confidence & connection
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“We used Cardinal Tutoring again in the Spring 2018 for precalculus. Once again, she had a great tutor she really liked and who really helped her this year. My daughter is a senior so we won't need Cardinal Tutoring again, but I highly recommend them!”

Gail F.
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Math
A note from a parent

“I wanted to thank you for finding our tutor who tremendously helped Sam with his math.”

Diane W.
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School support
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“We have had an excellent experience with Cardinal Tutors for the past two years. Neil was very responsive whenever we had any questions. We definitely strongly recommend them and plan on using them again in the near future.”

L F.
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Confidence & connection
★★★★★Yelp review ↗

“It was great to find a couple of really smart young women who helped not only with the subject matter, but became great role models.”

Joel S.
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Finding a match
A note from a parent

“You connected Leo with a great tutor and made the process seamless.”

Paula H.
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How our tutors prepare students

The tutor starts with a diagnostic, focuses on the sections with the most room to grow and works on timing with full practice tests. Because our tutors are close in age, they’re also good at easing the nerves that come with a first big test.

Sessions are one-on-one, at your home or through online tutoring. Tell us which schools your student is applying to, and we’ll plan backward from the test date.

Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a UC Berkeley tutor who fits.

Find a Tutor